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JD Shade

J.D. Shade

J.D. Shade is entering his second season at the helm of the men's tennis program at Radford after being hired on August 26th, 2022. Shade is the 11th head coach in men's tennis program history and brings over 10 years of experience teaching, coaching and directing various tennis clubs and resorts throughout the world.

In his first season coaching the Highlanders, Shade immediately kept the program competing at a successful level. The men's tennis team posted nine victories in 2023 and immediately made a statement by finishing third at the HEB Tournament of Champions with dominant wins over Abilene Christian (the 2022 WAC champions) and the tournament host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Through Shade's leadership the Highlanders earned a top-four seeding and advanced to the Big South Tournament. Four Highlanders earned postseason awards including Demis Taramonlis and Dinos Raptis earning first team all-conference honors.

"I am very honored and thrilled to be named the next head men's tennis coach at such a prestigious school such as Radford," commented Shade after his hiring in 2022. "I can't wait to get to work and build on the established stellar success of the tennis program both on and off the court. I would also like to thank Athletic Director Robert Lineburg and the rest of the Radford administration for entrusting me with this group of student-athletes. I look forward to joining the Radford family and connecting with the community. Go Highlanders!"

Shade was a part of building a great Elon squad in the spring 2022 season that finished as the Colonial Athletic Association tournament runner-up. Elon defeated the first-seeded William & Mary in the semifinals with one player named to first team All-CAA and three players named to second team All-CAA. Last season, the Phoenix also defeated 66th nationally ranked Furman on the road.

In the fall of 2021, Shade guided the doubles pairing of Kyle Frankel and Camilo Ponce to an ITA national ranking of 30th. In the spring of 2021 with Elon, he helped lead two players to first team All-CAA honors and two players to second team All-CAA honors. Academic success was also pivotal at Elon, as the men's tennis team earned a 3.42 GPA in spring 2021, the highest mark in the program's history.

While assisting at Elon, Shade's responsibilities also included coaching on court for singles and doubles, planning and structuring team practices, organizing team volunteer activities , analyzing player performance and monitoring Elon's tennis facility.

Shade also worked at the Aberdeen Marina Club from 2014-2018 as tennis professional teaching private lessons and group classes for various levels. Upon promotion as the Director of Social Tennis Events in 2016, he served as a liaison between AMC management and the Director of Tennis from 2016-2018. He taught private and group lessons for various levels of experience, was responsible for fiscal management, planned and organized all of the club's junior tennis events, and designed marketing and social media plans.

From 2016-18, he served as the Junior Prince Cup Team Captain for all the AMC Junior Teams that competed across Hong Kong. Shade's experience in the tennis coaching world stretches all the way back to 2014-18 where he was the director of social tennis events and a tennis professional at the Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong.

From 2012-14 he also was the head tennis professional at Waldorf Astoria in Naples, Fla., serving as a hitting partner for various ITF ranked players, Division I college tennis players and nationally ranked USTA junior tennis players.

As a player, Shade was a USTA junior ranked tennis player who started competing in tournaments at seven years old. He has competed in various tournaments across the country and men's open prize money tournaments. He also earned direct entry into the 2006 Qualifying Draw of the Art Van Pro Tennis Challenge. Shade was also a former MHSAA Class A singles state finalist and former Division I First Team All-State Doubles honoree in high school.

Shade earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Washington two full terms early, is a USPTA Certified Elite Tennis Professional, and has his USTA Quick Start 10 & Under Tennis Coaching Certificate. He is also a certified sports nutritionist, a certified personal trainer, and mentored elementary, high school and college students. Shade has traveled throughout 50 countries and six continents.